McIlroy battles through injury

An injury to Rory McIlroy added to the drama of an opening day at the USPGA Championship which also saw Tiger Woods slump to his worst-ever opening round in a major and Steve Stricker fire a record-equalling 63.

McIlroy was battling on with a bandaged arm after hurting his right wrist against a tree root on the third - a hospital scan was planned afterwards - and, remarkably, was one under par and inside the top 20 after 10 more painful holes.

Woods, though, had only 10 of the 156-strong field below him after a seven-over 77 that was his worst first round in any tournament in over a decade. Nobody was expecting it after he birdied three of his first five holes and shared the lead, but then came three double bogeys and five bogeys. Woods went in two lakes and 12 bunkers as his game fell apart.

He still did eight strokes better than Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, who four days after finishing fourth at the world championship in Akron crumbed to a 15-over round of 85 containing a triple bogey six on the 15th and five double bogeys.

Stricker's seven birdies, in stark contrast, included the 15th and 18th, two of the three that Woods double-bogeyed. He was already seven under after 14 holes, but parred his way in from there, missing a 12-foot chance on the 426-yard ninth and so instead of becoming the first to shoot 62 in majors joined a list of 22 other players to have 63.

The American led by two from Jerry Kelly and by three from their fellow American Shaun Micheel, winner in 2003. The leading European at that stage was England's Simon Dyson, three under after 10 and joint fourth, while the youngest of them all - 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero - marked his debut in the event with a two-under 68.

World number one Luke Donald, despite a double bogey at the 15th, handed in a level-par 70, while fellow Englishman Brian Davis shot 69. Phil Mickelson had a 71, recovering well from the shock of three-putting from only three feet on his opening green.

Ross Fisher dropped from four under to one over on his return to action after missing last week's event as a result of his baby son Harry being taken into hospital during the Irish Open.

Paul Casey had a 72, Martin Laird 73 like Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallacher 74s and Jamie Donaldson 77 in his first major round in America.

Late starters Lee Westwood and Justin Rose were two over, Graeme McDowell three over, David Horsey one over and Open champion Darren Clarke, playing with McIlroy, seven over following a triple bogey eight at the 12th.